In HyCAMP we address the impact of Short Lived Climate Forcers (SLCF) on cryospheric and hydrologic systems in the Himalayas, India, and Norway. The research is done in cooperation with The Department of Science and Technology, India.

About the project

A brief introduction to the HyCAMP - Hydrologic sensitivity to Cryosphere-Aerosol interaction in Mountain Processes project:

The project initiates a research collaboration to address the impact of Short Lived Climate Forcers (SLCF) on cryospheric and hydrologic systems.

A central outcome of HyCAMP is to further our capacity of hydrologic forecasting for water resources management.

The ultimate goal of the research is to provide an improved capacity to model hydrological response in glacial and mountain environments to improve predictive capabilities for hydrology.

Objectives

A goal in this project is to explore the impact on hydrological response and water resources forecasting on the interaction between SLCF aerosols and frozen water storage. In this investigation we will conduct model investigations to address deficiencies in the state of knowledge regarding the hydrologic sensitivity to cryosphere-aerosol interaction over the Himalaya and in Norway.

The following objectives are central to this activity:

Create a strategic partnership between the Indian Institute of Technology and Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

Establish a bilateral expertise on cryosphere-aerosol impact on water Resources.

Outcomes

The HyCAMP project recently generate a new dataset and first-of-kind ground up emission inventory of black carbon(BC) for India. The dataset is available through request by contacting John Burkhart . More information may be found in:

Using the hydrologic model, Shyft, we are implementing a new snow module which incorporates the response of aerosol deposition and allows for aerosol deposition fields to be used as a forcing variable. We have shown that even low concentrations of black carbon found in the arctic have an impact on the hydrologic response of snow covered catchments.

Financing

A cooperative research project of the The Norwegian Research Council’s MILJØ2015 program (#222195) and The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India through Grant no. INT/NOR/RCN/P-05/2013.